Interview: Chris Thomas of Hold Me Hostage

Denver rockers Hold Me Hostage are ending the summer with a new EP and three new videos. Not a band to lie fallow, HMH has already started working on new music for their next album and are tightening up their live show to support their recent release. Self-described mama’s boy Chris Thomas, lead singer of HMH, let RRM grill him about navigating the changes in the music industry, what it means to be an artist, and the creative vision behind their videos. Interview with Chris Thomas, lead singer of Hold Me Hostage:

The music world seems to be always in flux. How does Hold Me Hostage navigate and make headway in the ever changing landscape?

As a band we’re pretty new, but collectively we all have diverse industry experience. For example, I’m also the talent buyer at a music venue, so I see what works and what doesn’t. And the short answer is we’re not trying to sound exactly like anybody else. We have our own sound.

Who are the players in Hold Me Hostage?

Chris Thomas – Lead Vocals

Bryan Stacks – Bass, Keys, Back-up Vocals

Patrick Searcy – Guitar

James Opiteck – Drums

Skyler Harris – Guitar, Back-up Vocals

Your album Metaphors For Captivity just dropped. How many songs did you originally write for it, which ones ended up on the floor and how did you choose which ones went on the album?

It was originally meant to be a 4-song EP, but I have a hard-drive FULL of songs. Somewhere during the process I felt like a few other songs would be easy to finish (and deserved to see the light of day).

For anyone who has never heard Hold Me Hostage how would you pitch them Metaphors For Captivity?

Hopefully the music speaks for itself. I mean, we’re new, but we’re unique. You WILL feel us.

What is your favorite song off of Metaphors For Captivity and why?

The songs are all very different. That was our intention and objective. That said, I have a different favorite song every day. Yesterday I was feeling “You Only Live Once,” whereas today I’m more into our tune “Hatred”

Do you see your lyrics as poetry or are they more direct and to the point?

BOTH, if I’m doing it right…

You already have three music videos for songs off of Metaphors. Please tell us about the filming, direction, and tone of each one. What song are you doing a video for next?

Our coolest video so far is the one Kyle Lamar directed for “That Was Then.” He shot us at rehearsal in 8K and blew our minds. Definitely check out his company Digital Myle. Other than that, it’s been me and my friends having fun. The video for “Hatred” is just a slide show of uncomfortable faces. It’s social criticism working off the lyrics “everything that you hate about me is a reflection of you. And when you look in the mirror it’s all your fear staring back at you.”

Believe it or not, the video idea for “Shit Hits the Fan” was conceived before the actual song. I wrote the song to serve the soundtrack for the video idea. I liked the idea of perfect, idealized Barbies getting shit on. The idea of the bully victim figuring out how to utilize the brown note to mastermind his revenge was a fun brainstorm that I couldn’t resist bringing to fruition. It took a little over a year to complete, knocking it out in chunks, but it was fun and well worth it.

For the next music videos we’re looking at “You Only Live Once and/or “Time Bomb”

What has been your most meaningful experience being in Hold Me Hostage so far?

Honestly, this whole year has been amazing. Finishing the record and having a disc in my hand felt pretty rewarding, but I’ve really enjoyed rehearsals with the band too, visualizing what we’re going to do to an audience VERY SOON!

What more do you hope to accomplish with your music?

I’m an artist. I just want to be great! Greatness to me means kicking so much ass that people can’t help but notice! As a band, we want to outdo ourselves. We want people to feel us!

What is something about you that no one knows?

I’m a mama’s boy. ha ha…

What is next for Hold Me Hostage?

Our live show is coming along quickly now, so we’re excited to book a few dates. We’re looking at options to tour next year. Also, we’re already balls-deep into new writing.